James Bond fanatic has spent £100,000 on memorabilia and has seen No Time To Die FIVE times

October 2, 2021

JAMES Bond fanatic Luke Arnold is so obsessed with 007 he’s seen the new film five times and admits: “Bond is basically my life.”

Luke, 36, has spent £100,000 on events and memorabilia which is stored in display cabinets in his bedroom.

He has staged a speedboat chase with friends on the Thames in a nod to the action films and a mock gunfight in cable cars near London’s O2 Arena.

Luke, who lives with his mum, obtained a licence so he could carry his replica Bond guns — and even his mobile number and email address end with 007.

He got hooked as a child when he was given a replica of the Toyota from 1967’s You Only Live Twice.

He then watched a VHS of 1995 movie Goldeneye “so much the tape broke”.

Luke, of Shenfield, Essex, has been to every premiere since Die Another Day in 2002 and spends “every penny” on his obsession.

In his collection are three limited edition watches and every pair of sunglasses Daniel Craig has worn in his four outings as 007.

He also has a poster from the Quantum of Solace premiere signed by the cast, props including poker chips from Casino Royale, and the N. Peal combat suit Craig wore in No Time To Die.

And he owns black and white Tom Ford dinner jackets worn by Craig and a “Noh” mask worn by the menacing Bond villain Safin played by Rami Malek in the latest movie.

Former John Lewis employee Luke reckons he landed his latest job on the Omega account for Watches of Switzerland because of his wide knowledge of the timepieces worn by Bond.

Luke, who made his own Bond film short in 2015, said: “I’ve spent about £100,000 on all my memorabilia combined with going to all the premieres and conventions.

“Everyone knows how much I like the films. My mum loves it that I’m not going out drinking and wasting my money.

“My bedroom is cramped with four cabinets packed with memorabilia but I don’t care — I love having Bond all around me.”

Luke said of last week’s No Time to Die royal gala: “It was the best night of my life. The film is the best I’ve seen and Daniel Craig is the best Bond yet.

“I’m not ashamed to say I cried like a baby when the credits came down!”